Portable building panel



J. E. MITCHELL 2,905,980

PORTABLE BUILDING PANEL Sept.'29, 1959 Filed April 3. 1958 i T*ntlmi i y mw, 22 mi INVENTOR, da/my /l//f/ce ATTRNE United. States This invention relates to building construction and more particularly, to a closure for garage structure in the nature of a panel assembly adapted to be secured to hinge mechanism on the structure permitting the assembly to be swung as a unit from an upright position closing the vehicle opening in the garage structure, to a horizontal, overhead location clearing the vehicle opening.

The most important object of the instant invention is to provide a garage closure assembly as described above having a relatively smaller access door therein so that a person may enter the garage through the Vehicle opening thereof without the necessity of raising the closure on the hinge mechanism permitting the garage closure to be swung to a horizontal, vehicle opening clearing position.

A further and very important object of this invention is to provide an assembly as referred to which is constructed'of a number of transversely L-shaped and Z- shaped, elongated members suitably secured together to present a rectangular frame which is rigid under all conditions of use and thereby has maximum structural strength characteristics and may be constructed at a minimum cost, with along useful life being assured.

Another important aim of the instant invention is to provide a closure assembly wherein the outer peripheral margin of the assembly is defined by the elongated, terminally interconnected, L-shaped members, and the access opening through the assembly is dened by the Z- shaped members joined to and spanning the distance between the normally horizontal, L-shaped members, so that the door and panel means may be mounted on the frame with a minimum of additional parts being necessary and with the structural components of the frame serving to reenforce the panel means while, at the same time, serving as mounting members for the same.

' Also an important aim of the invention is to provide a closure assembly wherein the door is swingably mounted on one of the Z-shaped cross members by piano hinge means, to the end that the weight of the door is evenly distributed on the Z-shaped cross members and thus, misalignment of the door with respect to its access opening is precluded without the necessity of providing extremely strong structural components for mounting the door.

Other important objects and salient features of the instant invention will become obvious as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a closure assembly embodying the features of the present invention and showing the same disposed in closing relationship to the vehicle opening of garage structure;

` Fig. 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame forming a part of the instant closure assembly and illustrating the relative disposition of the structural components forming the frame.

Briey, the present invention comprises a closure lassembly for garage structure adapted to be mounted on hinge mechanism secured to the garage permitting the closure assembly to be swung as a unit from an upright position closing the vehicle opening in the garage to va horizontal, overhead location clearing the vehicle opening. The closure assembly itself includes a series of elongated, terminally interconnected, transversely L- shaped elements defining a rectangular frame, and a pair of substantially Z-shaped members secured to and spanning the distance between opposed, normally horizontal, L-shaped elements. The Z-shaped members are disposed in horizontally spaced relationship a sufcient distance to present an access opening through the closure assembly, and a rectangular door is swingably mounted on one of the members while panel means is secured to the remaining areas of the assembly in closing relationship thereto. In this manner, entry may be had to the garage while the assembly is disposed in closing relationship to the vehicle opening by merely opening the access door.

A closure assembly embodying the concepts of the instant invention and illustrated in its preferred form in the drawing is broadly numerated 10 and is shown in Fig. 1 in closing relationship to the vehicle opening 12 of garage structure broadly numerated 14. Closure assembly lll includes two pairs of opposed, elongated, terminally interconnected, transversely L-shaped elements 16 and 18 dening the outer peripheral margin of a frame broadly designated 20. Elements 16 and 18 have longitudinal legs 22 lying in a common, normally vertical plane and laterally extending legs 24 extending away from corresponding legs 22 in one direction.

A pair of identical, substantially Z-shaped members 26 and 28 are joined to and span the distance between elements 16. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, Z-shaped members 26 and 28 each have a pair of parallel, longitudinal segments 30 and 32 interconnected by an integral, intermediate, longitudinal bight 34. Segments 30 of each of the cross members 26 and 28 are joined to corresponding legs 22 of elements 16 and lie substantially in the major plane of legs 22. Segments 32 of cross members 26 and 28 are disposed substantially in the plane of the outer edges of legs 24 and extend in opposite directions toward proximal, opposed elements 18. Various means may be utilized to secure cross members 26 and 28 to respective elements 16 but for purposes of rigidity and structural strength, it is contemplated that cross members 26 and 28 be suitably welded to both legs 22 and 24 of corresponding elements 16.

Panel means generally designated 36 are mounted within each of the areas defined by a respective cross member 26 or 28, an opposed element 13 and terminal portions of element 16, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1, and it is to be noted that panel means 36 are disposed in overlapping relationship to legs 22 of elements 16 and 18 and underlying relationship to respective segments 32 of cross members 26 and 28. Suitable fastening means (not shown) is utilized to secure panels 36 to frame 20 and in particular it is contemplated that such fasteners may be passed through spaced, transverse openings 3S in legs 22 of elements 16 and 13. Similarly, openings may be profvided (not shown) in segments 32 for joining the margins of panel means 36 to proximal segments 32 of cross members 26 and However, such fastening means between cross members 26 and 23 and respective panel means 36 is not universally necessary because of the relatively tight fit obtained between legs 22 of elements 16 and segment 32 of cross members 26 and 28.

A rectangular door 40 is swingably mounted in the access opening defined by cross members 26 and 28 and in order to assure uniform distribution of the Weight of door 40 on cross member 28 upon which the same is swingably mounted, a piano hinge 42 is preferably provided, pivotally mounting door 4f) on bight 34 of cross member 28.

Although the type of door 40 and panel means 36 may be suitably varied, it is particularly contemplated that they be of the glass jalousie type, as illustrated in Fig. l, so that ventilation may be obtained in garage structure 14 by merely opening certain of the slats of panel means 36 or door 40.

As heretofore described, closure structure is adapted to be mounted on suitable hinge mechanism (not shown) provided on structure 14 permitting closure assembly 10 to be swung as a unit from an upright position closing vehicle opening 12 to a horizontal, overhead location clearing opening 12. To facilitate swinging of closure 10 as a unit, roller means 44 are preferably secured to the faces of legs 22 of elements 18 away from legs 24 and which ride upon suitable track means (not shown) mounted on garage structure 14.

It can now be appreciated that when closure assembly 10 is disposed in closing relationship to opening 12, a person may readily gain entry to garage 14 through opening 12 without the necessity of raising assembly 10 by swinging door 40 about the vertical axis of hinge 42. By the same token, since door 40 is completely mounted on frame 20, such door does not in any way interfere with swinging movement of closure 10 as a unit from a vertical, vehicle opening 12 closing position to the described overhead, opening 12 clearing location.

Closure 1f) may be constructed at a minimum cost because of the utilization of commercially available, standard lengths of transversely Lshaped and Z-shaped structural components and the fact that these components not only inherently brace the completed unit but also serve as convenient means for mounting the access door and closure panels on the completed frame. Furthermore, by virtue of the utilization of piano hinge 42 mounting door 40 on cross member 28, the weight of such door 40 is distributed uniformly along the length of cross member 28 and thereby prevents misalignment of such door by virtue of the weight of the same. Also an important feature is the fact that the elements i6 and 18 and cross members 26 and 2S are of particular configuration so that closure means 36 and door 4G are mounted within substantially the major planes thereof, and the various transversely extending legs and segments of elements 16 and 1S and cross members 26 and 28 function to impart structural strength to frame 20 while also serving as convenient means for mounting closure panels 36 and door 4i) on frame 20.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a closure for garage structure, an assembly adapted to be secured to hinge mechanism on the structure permitting the assembly to be swung as a unit from an upright position closing the vehicle opening in said structu-re to a horizontal, overhead location clearing the vehicle opening, said assembly including a rigid polygonal frame having a Series of elongated, terminally interconnected, transversely L-shaped elements defining the peripheral margin of said assembly, said elements having first longitudinal legs lying in a common plane and second longitudinal legs extending laterally from corresponding first legs in one direction; panel means secured to said frame and lying substantially within the major plane thereof, said panel means being of lesser area than that defined by said elements to present a polygonal access opening of sufficient size to permit entry to the struc;

ture when the assembly is disposed in said position; at least one elongated, substantially Z-shaped cross member joined to and spanning the distance between opposed elements of the frame disposed horizontally when the assembly is in said upright position thereof for bracing the frame, said cross member having a pair of spaced, longitudinal, oppositely extending parallel segments interconnected by an integral intermediate longitudinal bight, one of said segments being secured to said iirst legs of corresponding elements and the other segment lying substantially in a plane through the outer edges of said second legs of said elements, said cross member being disposed adjacent an extremity of said panel means defining a margin of said access opening with the proximal margin of one face said panel means underlying said other segment and the remaining margins of the opposite face of said panel means overlying said first longitudinal legs, the proximal margin of said opposite face being exposed; fastening means rigidly securing said panel means to said frame; and a door swingably mounted on the frame in closing relationship to said access opening for swinging movement on a vertical axis when said assembly is disposed in said position.

2. In a closure for garage structure, an assembly adapted to be secured to hinge mechanism on the structure permitting the assembly to be swung as a unit from an upright position closing the vehicle opening in said structure to a horizontal, overhead location clearing the vehicle opening, said assembly including a rigid, rectangular frame having two pairs of opposed, elongated, terminally interconnected, transversely L-shaped elements defining the peripheral margin of said assembly, said elements having first longitudinal legs lying in a common plane and second longitudinal legs extending laterally from corresponding first legs in one direction; a .pair of elongated, substantially Z-shaped cross members joined to and spanning the distance between opposed elements of the frame disposed horizontally when the assembly is in said upright position thereof for bracing the frame, said members being disposed in horizontally spaced relationship a sufiicient distance to present an access opening permitting entry into the structure when the assembly is in said position thereof and each being provided with a pair of spaced, parallel, longitudinal segments interconnected by an integral, elongated bight, one of the segments of each of the members being joined to said first legs of corresponding elements and the other segment of each member extending oppositely from said one segment and lying substantially in a plane through the outer edges of said second legs of the elements and extending toward a proximal, opposed element of the frame; panel means disposed in covering relationship to the areas defined by the cross members and said elements on each side of said access opening, said panel means overlapping respective first legs of the elements and underlying said other segments of corresponding cross members, the opposed marginal edges of the faces of the panel means from those underlying said other segments being exposed; fastening means securing said panel means to proximal overlapped portions of the first legs; a door disposed in closing relationship to said access opening; and piano hinge means substantially coextensive in length with one of said cross members and swingably Amounting said door on the bight thereof and within the major plane of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,353 Waldman Apr. 10, 1923 2,582,467 Sylvan Ian. l5, 1952 237522,27 .Reid et al. Allg. 21, 1956 

